The number of drivers...
The number of drivers prosecuted for having messed with the spacing of numbers and letters on their car"s registration plate has fallen dramatically. During 2000, more than 1,400 motorists were fined up to í‚á£1,000 each for breaking the rules. So far this year, the total is 566. A DVLA spokesman said it was the responsibility of the police to catch offenders.
Called the Fluence...
Called the Fluence, its design is a mix of a flowing front end, abrupt vertical rear and smooth flanks. While it boasts only three doors, the car has been created to point at the styling of the next-generation Laguna, which is expected to arrive in 2007.
Patrick le Qu탩ment, senior vice president of corporate design at Renault, said: "It would not be difficult to imagine the car"s silhouette as a four-door saloon. The shape is not far from what would be seen in reality, and isn"t much more than a few years away."
But that doesn"t mean the firm has shelved plans for a coup탩 replacement for the acclaimed Alpine V6 A610, which was axed in 1995. Le Qu탩ment said: "If we were to build a coup탩, then the Fluence would be a good basis." The car is powered by a 280bhp 3.5-litre V6 which drives the front wheels via a six-speed automatic gearbox. But its main feature is the boot; at the touch of a button, it slides up over the roof of the vehicle, enabling cargo to be loaded in tight places - even in low-ceilinged multi-storeys, as its height is only 1.57 metres when raised.
However, while it is unlikely that this will be available on either the saloon or hatchback Laguna, it could appear on a coup탩. Le Quement explained: "The principal of the tailgate is something that is de-signed to go into production. But due to the high cost, it could be available only on a small-volume premium car."
At the front, the Fluence does away with a standard grille, while the headlamps feature a series of angled LEDs. They shine light according to the turn of the steering wheel. In addition, the air intakes have been moved to underneath the lights for improved engine cooling and pedestrian crash protection.
Le Qu탩ment said these features are likely to appear on future Renaults, as are the space-saving minimalist chairs. Their slim design helps make the cabin seem more roomy, while single-dial controls give an uncluttered feel.